Improvement in clock-escapem ents



C. E. LORD. Clook-Esoapement.

No. 221,331. Patented Nov. 4,1879.

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N.PETERS. PHOTO-UTHGGRAPHER, WASHINGTON` D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. LORD, OF BOSTON,,MASSACHUSETTS ASSIGNOR TO HEITRY lV. WILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCK-ESCAPEMENTS.

Spccilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,331, dated November Li, 1879 application lilcd May 2, 1879.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, OHAnLEs E. LORD, of Boston, in the county ot' Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Glock Eseapements, of which the following is a specification.

This eseapement, although apj'ilica-ble to clocks of all sizes, is particularly adapted to tower-clocks. Itis ofthat class known as gravity-escapements,77 and one in which gravity not only gives the impulse to the pendulum, but also unlocks the escape-wheel.

The nature ot' this improvement and its advantages are below set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure l is a side elevation ot an escapement embodying1 my improvement, a spring and a little gear heilig shown, merely for the purpose of providing sufficient power to run the escapement for a short time. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the escapement in the position assumed when the pendulum has swung toits extreme point at the lett and is about to enter upon its return vibration to the right, (the direction indicated by the arrow.) Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same in exactly the same condition. In both Figs. 2 and 3 a part of the frame shown in Fig. l is removed the better to exhibit the escapenient. Fig. et is a part elevation of the escape-wheel and some of its actuated connections. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the upper portion of one ot' the pailet-detents with one of the pallet-pins therein, the view being taken from the rear side.

A is the escape-wheel, fixed upon its arbor A, which is actuated by the train of the clock, (not shown inl the drawings,) but for which the gear w acts a substitute.

A ily-wheel, a, is fixed upon the arbor A, and the escapement is supported in a frame, y, none of which parts, except the escapewheel, are essential to the invention.

The escape-wheel A has six arms, whose ends are loaded or thickened alternately on the front and rear sides, although this is not absolutely necessary.

B B are the wheel-detents, which lock the escape-wheel alternately. C C are the pallets. I) D are the pallet-detents, to which the wheeldetents B ll are lirmly secured or made a part ot'. E E are the lower extensions ot' the pallct-detents l) 1)', being a part of or fastened to the saine, and the latter, E', bending inward atnearly 'a right angle. a a (t are the three lifting-pins projecting from the escapewheel. I) b are the pallet-pin guards. c c are the beat-inns. d d are the pallet-pins. j" ff are the cocks supporting the pivots g g of the pallet-detents, and also serving as banks for the wheel-detents. The pallets pivot at Il. 7l.

k is the pendulum, Z the peinlulum-rod, and o 0 are t-he pallet-extensions, projecting inwardly from the pallets.

In the drawings, the escape-wheel Ais turning toward the left, and is locked in the wheeldetent Bon the right-hand side. rlhe pendulum has completed a vibration toward the let't, and, we will suppose, has just entered upon its return*fi. c., is now moving toward the right. It strikes the beat-pin c', and by it moves the pallet C' to the right and upward until the pallet-pin d', releasing itself', allows the pallet-detent D to tall, which by its weight alone raises the wheel-detent B', thus unlocking the escape-wheel. This pallet C is now free, and will continue with the peiululum-rod (heilig raised thereby) to the end of its vibration toward the right, and will return with it in its vibration toward the left until its extension o' reaches the lowest ot' the lifting-pins a, on the wheel, which will be when the pendulum-rod is hanging vertically or slightly to the le'lt. A

Furthermore, as soon as the escape-wheel is unlocked by the detent B', as above nientioned, it moves one-sixth of a revolution, when it is again locked by the detent B. The extension E having been moved outward toward the left from the center of the wheel by the highest lifting-pin a, the detent I3, necessarily movin g with it, is depressed, so as to encounter the thick end A of the next spoke of the escape-wheel, and at the same time the pallet C is raised by the action of the same lifting-pin a upon its extension 0, so as to carry the pallet-pin d over and allow it to catch into the pallet-detent D and hold it in position until released by the peinluluin-rod, which will be upon its return toward the left,just a little to the lett ot' the central point, when it moves the pallet C, by means of its beat-pin c, toward the lei't until the pallet-pin d allows the pallet-detent D to fall. The ripper liftingpin, during the above described operation, has passed a little beyond, to the left of the point oi' the extension E, on which it acts, so that the palletdetcnt G is in a position to fall as soon as released by the pallet-piu d.

It will be seen thatI the above description takes the pendulum-rod at its highest point at the left and carries it once to its highest point to the right and return.

The palletexteusion o ot' course performs an o'l'tice upon the lowest lifting-pin similar to that performed by `o upon the highest liftingpin, said extension being bent at about a right angle, so as to reach the pin.

rlhe guards b prevent the pallets from iin so far as not to return inl season to allow the pallet to catch the l'lallet-detents should the escape-wheel be moved with greater or less velocity. rllhey are oi' great importance, as they eiiectually prevent tripping or allowing more than one arm of the escape-wheel to pass the deteuts at a time. They are not in action nor touched by the pallet-pins except in time ot' danger.

1n this improvement there is a perfect unit'ormity in the labor of the pendulum, a perfect equalization ot' the friction. rl`he friction ot the pallet-pins is always the same, and cannot be ati'ected bythe greater or less force applied to the train.

The works may be freshly cleaned or be badly gummed up; the hands, as is often the case in tower-clocks, may be loaded with snow and ice; but the pendulum is not affected, as the whole force ot' locking is practically upon the frame, not on any movable part of the clock. Y

The unlocking is purely by the power oi' gravity, and tripping is impossible, as proved by actual test.

Having thus fully described my improvement, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Y l. rlheintermediate mechanism shown,lying between the pallets and the escape-wheel, and consisting' ot the pallet-detents D D provided with the extensions E E and guards I) b', and having the whecldetents B B attached to the same, arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. In combination with the escape-wheel, the pallet-detents D D', provided with the wheeldetents B B', arranged to lock alternately the escape-wheel by engaging the spokes thereof alternately, substantially as specified.

3. rlhe pallct-detents D D@ provided with the extensions E ll, arranged to be actuated by the litting'pins a c a, substantially as set forth.

4. rlhe palletdetents D D', provided with the guards b b', in combination with locking or engaging pins or projections d d', secured t0 the pallets t'or the purpose of preventing tripping, and substantially as described.

5. rlhc combination, with the lifting-pins a, a c, ot' the pallet-extensions 0 o and the pallet detent extensions E E', arranged substantially as described, and so that the same lifting-pin moves one of each of the said extensions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES E. LORD.

Titnesscs HisNnv W. WILLriiMs, JOHN E. FanNNING. 

